Germany’s Leopard-2A7 main battle tank
Posted on 04/17/2014 5:33:57 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
LONDON — Germany was expected to reject a request by Saudi Arabia for hundreds of main battle tanks.
A leading German newspaper said the Berlin government would not approve a Saudi request for up to 800 Leopard-2A7 MBTs.
The newspaper, Bild, said the deal was opposed by leading members of the government of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, particularly Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel.
“Without agreement from the economy minister, the deal has no chance,” Bild said.
If correct, the newspaper report could signal the end of Berlin’s plans to become a leading military supplier to the Arab world. Many in parliament have questioned German arms sales to Saudi Arabia, deemed a leading violator of human rights.
“He [Gabriel] has positioned himself against a tanks delivery to the autocratic royal house,” Bild said in a report on April 13.
The Saudi MBT procurement was estimated at up to $25 billion. Over the last year, Riyad, disappointed with the U.S. rapproachment with Iran, has sought to diversify military suppliers.
Bild said the opposition to the sale has stopped Ms. Merkel from submitting the proposal to the National Security Council. Ms. Merkel has led efforts to expand German arms exports, particularly to the GCC.
The government has refused to respond to the Bild report. Germany was also preparing to deliver MBTs and other armored vehicles to Saudi’s chief rival in the GCC, Qatar.
“We have to be clear what this means for the German arms industry,” Michael Fuchs, a leading parliamentarian, said. “If the German arms firms can no longer export outside the NATO alliance, there will be no arms industry in Germany anymore.”
Germany’s Leopard-2A7 main battle tank
The Germans refuse to take money from a Muslim country that is repressive. Kudos to the Germans
Saudis would do better sticking with armor plating their camels. You go Siggy Gabriel.
I wonder what the Saud’s have in mind? They have already purchased a slew of M1 Abrams from the US. Now they want German Leopards. Sounds like someone is either preparing to repel an invasion or launch one of their own.
Germany has a 130 year history of being a major arms supplier to Muslim countries.
This is a curious development.
No worries—I’m sure obama has buddies in Congress with relatives that will do it.
You failed to notice the main point of the article.
“Over the last year, Riyad, disappointed with the U.S. rapproachment with Iran, has sought to diversify military suppliers. “
THE POINT IS, THE USA UNDER OBAMA HAS SWITCHED SIDES FROM SAUDI ALLIES TO IRANIAN ALLIES.
The Saudis may want the German Leopards because they do not trust the USA under Obama and there may be a “kill” switch on the Abrams so the USA if it chooses, can turn off all the Abram tank electronics.
What the Saudis have in mind is that US in no longer a reliable partner, that’s what. See my tag.
I did miss that. Too early in the AM.
Iran has gained influence in Iraq since the U. S. withdrawal. Perhaps the Saudis fear aggression from Iran coming through Iraq?
Once Iran has the bomb, they’ll probably feel they can get away with anything.
Nice tank, from what I’ve heard.
Sigmar Gabriel is chair of the Social Democrat Party. Of course he’s going to side with Iran and Obama.
A topic like this is bound to bring out the pro-Soviet Putin butt-lickers, as well as the cheerleaders for the terrorist mullahcracy of Iran. Thanks sukhoi-30mki.
> the deal was opposed by leading members of the government of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, particularly Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel. “Without agreement from the economy minister, the deal has no chance,” Bild said.
SG is a straight leftist bigot, and a full-bore Eurabian.
> He has promoted the International Renewable Energy Agency. He called the speeches of Thilo Sarrazin, his party colleague who wrote critically about immigration, “verbal violence”. Gabriel also once called Israel an “Apartheid-Regime”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmar_Gabriel
The arabs wanted something in addition to tanks from the Germans.
The Saudis are still an enemy. They pretend to be our friends, but they have evil intentions to spread Wahabbist Islam across the globe.
The old Saudi problem was in having more weapons in inventory than they could use with the manpower they had available; the belief back then was, they were expecting to be attacked at some point by one of their none-too-neighborly neighbors, and wanted to be able to call up millions of reserves a la Israel’s approach, and have the stuff to arm them all.
But also they like to have a variety of different suppliers in order to avoid the kind of debacle faced by Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, when they couldn’t get spare parts for the US-built systems they’d accumulated during the Shah’s rule. For that matter, they’ve seen Zero and his cadre turn on each US allies, including Israel (denying shipments to pressure Israel to try “peace talks” again), and whatever else they may be, the House of Saud is filled with very cautious men.
The U.S.A. names its tanks after famous Americans. The names Grant, Sherman, and now Abrams comes to mind. Good ones, too.
I admire the Germans for naming theirs after Kitty Kats.
The names TIGER, PANTHER and now LEOPARD. Coming up the “Lion”? I think Jaguar may be claimed already.
and of course, the Patton, in use in various iterations for forty years.
Thank you very much. I KNEW I’d forgotten at least one, but am embarrassed that I’d forgotten a man like PATTON.
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